<p>Hey all you Williams (Ephs?) people, soon-to-be applicant here. I was wondering which of these fine institutions should I submit my Common App ED to. If it helps, I intend to major in Philosophy, and probably go to Law School afterwards. The quality of education, EC's, and environment are what's most important. Feel free to suggest another option, correct me on something I'm saying, or even suggest another major. People with experience would be welcome!</p>
<p>This is how I see it right now:
Quality of Education: W, S, A, P</p>
<p>Environment: S, P, W, A</p>
<p>EC's: P, S, A, W</p>
<p>I'm kind of leaning Swarthmore, or Williams, at the moment.
Another note: This is assuming I get into any of these, I'll be applying to all of them. I'm somewhat confident about my chances, but, hey, ***** happens.</p>
<p>Aidan, For Quality of Education I’d grade all four equally. They are all excellent entrees to law school. I don’t know much about philosophy at the others, but Williams has a small but strong department. </p>
<p>For Environment and ECs, it really depends on what you’re looking for. For my son Williams was #1 in both, but that was just him. </p>
<p>He also liked Swarthmore and Amherst (didn’t consider Pomona because he was concentrating on east coast), but Williams better suited his interests in art and art history. </p>
<p>He also wanted to be in a rural environment and taking advantage of it was his major EC. I would say that there’s more overlap in personality among Williams, Amherst and Pomona with Swarthmore attracting a somewhat different type.</p>
<p>If you’ve visited all and feel that Swarthmore has the ambiance that most appeals to you (plus whatever ECs you’re interested in) then that seems like a logical first choice to me. </p>
<p>This is also assuming that you can afford it.</p>
<p>They are all amazing schools with essentially on par academics. If environment includes being near a thriving city with a major college presence, then S would win for you. If you are a serious outdoors person, then Williams wins hands down. Pomona is great, but the LA area has a very different feel than the east coast. There are many ways that Pomona and Amherst are similar, including the consortium of schools that students actively take advantage of (unlike Swat-Bryn Mawr-Haverford). Swathmore is, in my opinion, significantly more intellectual than the other schools. In fact, few can compare on that topic. But, it is also the most intense. Williams is by far the most isolated.</p>
<p>Here’s my quick input:
Education-All equal unless u know which has a stronger Philosophy program in general. I know 3 people that attended Amherst, Swarthmore and Pomona. All for Philosophy majors.</p>
<p>EC’s-Williams might be a little stronger. Or Amherst.</p>
<p>Quality-Depends on person.
Personally for me it would probably go W, P, A, and then S</p>
<p>I’d advise against ED, period, which really makes more sense in the case of a clear number one choice. If you are still in the narrowing it down among your top four stage, why not just apply to all four regular and see where you get accepted, then visit those schools, especially if you confident in your chances? If you give more specifics about your extracurricular interests and preferred environment, folks could, in all events, give more helpful advice.</p>
<p>The overall consensus that you can’t go wrong is where I would come out.</p>
<p>If you haven’t done so, visit each campus. In many, if not most, instances you will have a “gut” feeling as to where you belong. For example, my D thought about a CA school and P was on her list-- but one day there and it was off–conversely she never thought of a rural school and only visited Williams because of a friend’s pushing her-- she came out fell in love with the school, the people and as she is an athlete, the coach and team–and went ED. </p>
<p>Other than the cold (already) she is very happy…absolutely has drunk the Purple Kool-aid.</p>
<p>So no amount of cogitating can beat even a short visit. You will know where you want to go–and it may be multiple places-- and where you do not. Just go to each college with an open mind.</p>
<p>Attending Williams was vital to my S’s eventual choice of career. He studied Music and Classics, but one summer working at the Clark Museum told him he was home in Art History, and is currently in a graduate program in Art History. This is an outcome we could not have predicted. There is something quite mysterious about the process.</p>
<p>All these are wonderful schools, and each has its enthusiastic partisans.</p>
<p>To badly paraphrase someone I heard on the radio the other day (perhaps it was Biddy Martin)…education does not just build onto ones life but is transformative…it changes ones life…Like mythmom says, graduates of each of these schools will most likely share that continuing theme. The school you’re favoring is the first step, being open is the second.</p>